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Army Stops No. 15 Bucknell on Lynch's 2OT Winner

from press release

LEWISBURG, Pa. - For the second time in his
career, senior midfielderDevin Lynch provided a double-overtime
game-winning goal. This time around, Lynch's score with 3:30 on the
clock put the exclamation point on a 6-5 Army win over No. 15
Bucknell in Patriot League lacrosse action at Christy
Mathewson-Memorial Stadium. The Black Knights' victory ended an
eight-game win streak for the Bison.

The last time Army (5-6, 2-2 PL) played a double-overtime game,
Lynch came up with the game-winner at the Carrier Dome as his Black
Knights shocked Syracuse in the opening round of the 2010 NCAA
Tournament. Lynch's heroics two years later spelled Army's second
Patriot League victory and first win over a nationally ranked
opponent this season.

"The second overtime is a time when anything goes and it's just
about making a big play," Lynch said after the game. "They
10-manned us, which we expected, and it left the corners and the
wings open. Luckily, I was open and saw a lane and went for it.

"As I fell, I heard the crowd erupt and figured the game was
over or a save must have been made," the tri-captain added. "Having
the guys jump on me definitely signified that we got it done."

"It was a tough game all the way through against one of the best
teams in the country," said seventh-year head coach Joe Alberici.
"All week long we had talked about expecting to win. We've been
right there in a number of close games and it just hasn't gone our
way."

After entering the locker room tied 2-2, Army found itself
facing deficits of 3-2 and 4-3 before regulation came to a close.
The Black Knights gave up an extra-man Bucknell goal with 1:16 to
play in the fourth quarter which eventually resulted in the Black
Knights' second overtime test of the season.

"The guys showed some great mental toughness out there today,"
Alberici continued. "There was a lot of confidence in our huddle
and I think that's what carried the day."

Neither team found the back of the net in the first overtime
despite combining for five shots. The teams played much of the
opening two minutes of the second overtime period unsettled in the
middle of the field. The Black Knights accounted for the only shot,
Lynch's game-winner, of the final frame.

Bucknell (8-4, 3-1 PL) sophomore attackman Todd Heritage paced
the Bison with two goals, while senior attackman Billy Eisenreich,
junior attackman Chase Bailey and sophomore midfielder Tom Black
each registered single goals. Eisenreich entered the game ranked
third in the nation averaging 4.73 points per game and finished
Saturday's affair with two points (1G, 1A). Army junior close
defensemanBrendan Buckley spent the majority of the afternoon
silencing Eisenreich.

"We played a lot of defense today with some costly clearing
errors, but I have to tip my hat to the entire 'D' for their
outstanding efforts today," Alberici said. "Our goaltending was
terrific. Zach (Palmieri) did a great job in the cage making saves
when he needed to. For Brendan Buckley to lead a defensive effort
in holding one of the leading scorers in the country (Billy
Eisenreich) to one (goal) and one (assist), it was a critical
element to today's success."

Senior goalkeeper Zach Palmieri made 10 saves, including two in
the final seconds of regulation to preserve the tie and force
overtime. Buckley amassed a game-high five caused turnovers as Army
racked-up a season-best 16 forced miscues on the day. Senior
captains Brian LoRusso and Tim Henderson added four and three
caused turnovers, respectively. Henderson led all players with
seven ground balls. Army edged Bucknell 36-30 in ground balls for
the day.

Army struck first on a play that began with a caused turnover
courtesy of senior long pole Tom Daltonand finished with an
unassisted Thul goal at 11:54. The Black Knights' 1-0 lead stood
for nearly eight minutes, but a close-range goal from Bucknell's
Heritage with 3:46 on the clock evened the score a 1-1.

Each team netted a single goal in the second quarter as well,
but it was the Bison striking first 2:18 into the action. Army
answered just over a minute later as Glesener fed a streaking
MacGibbon for his third goal of the season at 11:06. While both
teams had plenty of chances over the remaining 11 minutes of the
quarter, neither could add to its goal total and entered halftime
tied 2-2.

Bucknell took a 3-2 lead with an Eisenreich goal just 2:30 into
the third quarter. That advantage lasted exactly two minutes before
Van Krevel hit a wide open Glesener for a 10-yard score with 10:30
on the clock. The Bison wasted little time regaining the lead, as
Heritage's second goal of the day at 9:16 gave the Bison a 4-3
edge.

Neither team scored over the final nine minutes of the third
quarter, but the Black Knights leveled the score for a fourth time
less than two minutes into the fourth quarter. After Palmieri came
up with his eighth save of the afternoon, Hayes hit Thul in stride
for his second goal of the day with 13:17 on the clock.

Army went on to take its first lead since the opening minutes of
the game as Hayes found MacGibbon wide open just outside the crease
for his second goal of the day. MacGibbon's fourth goal of the
season paid dividends after a long possession at the 9:10 mark.

The Black Knight defense held up over the next eight minutes of
regulation before a pushing call with just under two minutes to
play put Bucknell's EMO unit on the field. The Bison converted as
Bailey netted his only goal of the day with 1:16 left in
regulation. Over the final minute of regulation, the teams combined
for three turnovers and Palmieri made back-to-back saves to
preserve the tie, force the extra sessions and lead to Lynch's
late-game heroics.

Army will look to carry momentum into next Saturday's
service-academy showdown against Navy at Michie Stadium. Face-off
for the April 14 contest is set for 12:06 p.m. for a game that is
set to air live on CBS Sports Network. Fans are encouraged to
arrive early for the contest to take part in a bevy of pregame
activities to include Black Knights Alley beginning at 10 a.m.

Notes

Bucknell is the sixth nationally ranked opponent Army has faced
this season ... senior defenseman Larry LoRusso carried the
American flag onto the field ... Army has scored first in eight
games this season ... senior midfielder Derek Sipperly won 9-of-16
face-offs ... he added four ground balls ... senior goalkeeper Zach
Palmieri reached double-figure saves for the fifth time this
season.